Roll of Honor
Felix Smith
Incident
Guard Felix Smith was shot and killed during a prison escape from the Retrieve Prison Farm in Brazoria County.
One of the suspects dismounted from his mule, as the other prisoners plowed fields, and hid in some tall grass. As one of the trailing guards passed the location, the inmate attacked him, and with the help of another inmate, disarmed him.
One of the inmates took the guard's pistol and the other took the guard's shotgun and horse. As the inmate on the horse raced along the line of prisoners, he fired a shotgun blast into the back of Guard Smith, who was on a horse on the front of the line. The inmate then took Guard Smith's two pistols and the two escaped.
The two escapees were captured two weeks later and tried for Guard Smith's murder. The inmate who shot him was found guilty and sentenced to death. He was executed in the electric chair on August 20, 1937.
The second inmate was sentenced to 60 years for the murder. On October 3, 1937, he was shot and mortally wounded by a prison guard when he attempted to escape from the Eastham Prison Farm. He died two weeks later.
The inmate who was executed was originally in prison for the murder of Deputy John H. Lamkin, of the Nolan County Sheriff's Department, in June 1933.
Thank you for your service and know that your sacrifice will never be forgotten. Rest in peace always.
Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo (Retired) Delaware State Police June 19th, 2020
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-TX-8F08D491- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Guard Smith served with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Thank you for your service to the Huntsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Guard Felix Smith is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division, 31 of 124 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Felix Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Felix Smith Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1937
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Felix Smith is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Felix Smith was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
123 officers from Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
